What is the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED)?
 

The PSED was introduced by the Equality Act 2010 and applies to all schools, including maintained and independent schools, academies, maintained nursery schools, and maintained and non-maintained special schools.
 

The PSED has three main elements
 

These are:

• Eliminating discrimination and other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010

• Advancing equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it

• Fostering good relations across all characteristics – between people who do share a protected characteristic and people who do not
   

What are protected characteristics?
 

There are 9 protected characteristics:

• Age

• Sex

• Race

• Disability

• Religion or belief

• Sexual orientation

• Gender reassignment

• Pregnancy or maternity

• Marriage and civil partnership
   

Age as a protected characteristic does not apply to pupils in schools, so pupils will be treated in ways appropriate to their age and stage of development.
 

How Nantwich Primary Academy eliminates discrimination:
 

• Policies are in place to cover anti-bullying, behaviour, staff pay and appraisal.

• Governor meeting minutes show equality is discussed and relevant actions taken.

• Equality issues are recorded and presented to governors, with relevant action taken.

• Single equality objectives are identified and published. Actions are embedded into school development plans as appropriate.
   

How Nantwich Primary Academy advances equality of opportunity:
 

• Safer recruitment processes are in place, including panel selection and decision making that is removed from the 9 protected characteristics.

• Attainment data reviews different pupil groups e.g. gender, EAL and disadvantage. Relevant actions for specific pupil groups are built into action plans and school development.

• Bullying incidents are recorded and presented to governors, which shows very low incidence of bullying overall, but also specifically related to a protected characteristic.

• Accessibility plan (see Policies page) in place, with adaptation for those with disability e.g. disabled toilet access for pupils and adults.
   

How Nantwich Primary Academy fosters good relations:
 

• Relationships with parents fostered through clear, regular communications by letter and parents' evenings. This includes ad-hoc welcome meetings and individual meetings and/or discussions with parents where there is an additional need.

• By adopting a Rights-Respecting ethos that is rooted in the rights of the child. This impacts the language and approaches used to build rapport with children and our community.

• Assemblies are used to promote diversity, friendship, and understanding of a range of religions and cultures.

• By making collaboration and community a priority for school development.

This page and content reviewed Summer 2023 (to be reviewed annually).